How many watts over your 40 breeder?

nightOwl · 05/22/2007, 09:30 AM

Hi all,
I was thinking about setting up a 40 gal breeder tank as a frag tank. I was interested in what type of configurations people were running with these. T5's , MH, PC...just curious before I dump a butt load of money into lights. Oh this tank will mainly house SPS and some zoas but mainly SPS. Any confuration information will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Henry

BLUESMAN · 05/22/2007, 10:40 AM

I run a single 250w XM 10K MH...with good results. Blue

nightOwl · 05/22/2007, 02:32 PM

Hey BLUESMAN,
Is this a retro fit or a single fixture if retro what type of reflector are you using? Also what kind of ballast are you running?

Thanks,

Henry

coker98 · 05/22/2007, 03:42 PM

If you get serious and want to drop a little change, get the 3 ft. tek light fixture with 8 bulbs.

drummereef · 05/22/2007, 09:06 PM

I would do either halides or t5's. I have a pc setup on my mixed 40g and keep a couple monti caps but that's about it for sps with my setup. If you are thinking you want to get into more light demanding sps then you'll be limited with pc's.

shag26272 · 05/22/2007, 09:14 PM

1 400 watt halide 20k, open top with a lumen max 2 reflector

israelnajar · 05/22/2007, 09:21 PM

I had 190 of VHO on my 40, I decided to add another bulb since I had the endcaps and bulb laying around. Im running 2 actinic whites and 1 blue. I had no problems before the extra bulb. The only thing I can tell right now is I love how much more crisp the tank looks with the extra bulb.

Im also in the planning stages of a 125 and on that I am planning on using a VHO setup on that as well. But hey I am a softie for VHOs

nightOwl · 05/22/2007, 09:25 PM

shag26272,
Very nice set up. That looks like some nice rock. The way its looking is its going to be MH sitting over my frag tank. Will probably give me some good grown for the high light demanding SPSs. I think later this week I am going to order a few new frags and then upgrade the tank.

THanks,

Henry

syrinx · 05/22/2007, 09:25 PM

2x175 XM20ks and 15Ks- haven`t decided which to stick with yet.

shag26272 · 05/22/2007, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by nightOwl
shag26272,
Very nice set up. That looks like some nice rock. The way its looking is its going to be MH sitting over my frag tank. Will probably give me some good grown for the high light demanding SPSs. I think later this week I am going to order a few new frags and then upgrade the tank.

THanks,

Henry

35 of my 50 lbs if LR is base rock from reeferrocks.com

the other 12-15 is nano LR from premium aquatics

nightOwl · 05/22/2007, 09:28 PM

syrinx,
What is making you keep switching them...is it not giving you the look you want or one giving you better growth?

Thanks,

Henry

nightOwl · 05/22/2007, 09:29 PM

israelnajar,
What ballast are you running for the VHO's?

Thanks,

Henry

nightOwl · 05/22/2007, 09:31 PM

I had some of that reeferrocks.com base rock my 90 before i redid my rock work. Very nice once it encrusts.

syrinx · 05/22/2007, 10:05 PM

Like the par # of the 20ks, but not into the blue clown tank thing- don`t need green yellow tangs! Like the 15s color better but haven`t decided if i have enough watts to make up for their inefficiencies. Growth is a non issue to me really- I try to keep things from getting out of hand more than encouraging it!

israelnajar · 05/22/2007, 10:19 PM

Im using an Icecap A4.

If you like I could post a FTS of before and after.

nightOwl · 05/22/2007, 10:27 PM

israelnajar,
Yea post away I am always looking to see how people have their tanks set up and the types of corals.

Thanks,

Henry

israelnajar · 05/23/2007, 08:34 PM

This shot is with two 36 inch VHO bulbs. As you can see it is a little blue. Taken 4/22/07

The color on this one is more what it looked like in person.

Taken today. As you can see it is a lot less blue, I love it. The only change I made in live stock between the two photos was I added another clown, a bicolor blenny, zoas and moved the clams to the same side.

israelnajar · 05/23/2007, 08:45 PM

Also I did have montipora digitata on my sand bed for a while but my anemone stung it to death while I was a way for the weekend. It grew slow but it did grow. On my sand bed now I have a green plating montipora and it is growing a lot faster. I cant wait to see if it grows any faster with the new bulb as well as the other corals. Especially the Xenia since it hasnt shown any growth.

nightOwl · 05/23/2007, 08:59 PM

looks very nice thanks for sharing...i just recently switched the bulbs over my 90 to a mix of 14k and blue plus with some vho actinics. i need to get around to taking some new updated pics.

05/22/2007, 09:30 AM	#1
nightOwl Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,799	How many watts over your 40 breeder? Hi all, I was thinking about setting up a 40 gal breeder tank as a frag tank. I was interested in what type of configurations people were running with these. T5's , MH, PC...just curious before I dump a butt load of money into lights. Oh this tank will mainly house SPS and some zoas but mainly SPS. Any confuration information will be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Henry __________________ To check out my pictures of my tank and trips just click on my name and visit my homepage. Tank Build Thread (Miracles Custom) - http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2628737

05/22/2007, 10:40 AM	#2
BLUESMAN Registered Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Buckeye!(but it's a dry R ! heat),Az. Posts: 2,417	I run a single 250w XM 10K MH...with good results. Blue __________________ SPS and Zoanthid Nut!! Current Tank Info: 40g BB Tank, SPS/LPS,250w MH, Seios, TF1000 skimmer, percs,Tang,Wrasses

05/22/2007, 02:32 PM	#3
nightOwl Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,799	Hey BLUESMAN, Is this a retro fit or a single fixture if retro what type of reflector are you using? Also what kind of ballast are you running? Thanks, Henry __________________ To check out my pictures of my tank and trips just click on my name and visit my homepage. Tank Build Thread (Miracles Custom) - http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2628737

05/22/2007, 09:06 PM	#5
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	I would do either halides or t5's. I have a pc setup on my mixed 40g and keep a couple monti caps but that's about it for sps with my setup. If you are thinking you want to get into more light demanding sps then you'll be limited with pc's. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

05/22/2007, 09:14 PM	#6
shag26272 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 3,088	1 400 watt halide 20k, open top with a lumen max 2 reflector __________________ .

05/22/2007, 03:42 PM	#4
coker98 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 594	If you get serious and want to drop a little change, get the 3 ft. tek light fixture with 8 bulbs.

05/22/2007, 09:21 PM	#7
israelnajar Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: 5000 Feet Posts: 1,007	I had 190 of VHO on my 40, I decided to add another bulb since I had the endcaps and bulb laying around. Im running 2 actinic whites and 1 blue. I had no problems before the extra bulb. The only thing I can tell right now is I love how much more crisp the tank looks with the extra bulb. Im also in the planning stages of a 125 and on that I am planning on using a VHO setup on that as well. But hey I am a softie for VHOs __________________ I would never do such a thing unless you would already have been going to do that!

05/22/2007, 09:25 PM	#8
nightOwl Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,799	shag26272, Very nice set up. That looks like some nice rock. The way its looking is its going to be MH sitting over my frag tank. Will probably give me some good grown for the high light demanding SPSs. I think later this week I am going to order a few new frags and then upgrade the tank. THanks, Henry __________________ To check out my pictures of my tank and trips just click on my name and visit my homepage. Tank Build Thread (Miracles Custom) - http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2628737

05/22/2007, 09:25 PM	#9
syrinx Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: champaign Posts: 3,160	2x175 XM20ks and 15Ks- haven`t decided which to stick with yet. __________________ My views are based on 49years as an aquarist, 25 years as a pro reef consultant, 10 years of owning a LFS, and the results of thousands of customers tanks. But I am always learning.

05/22/2007, 09:28 PM	#11
nightOwl Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,799	syrinx, What is making you keep switching them...is it not giving you the look you want or one giving you better growth? Thanks, Henry __________________ To check out my pictures of my tank and trips just click on my name and visit my homepage. Tank Build Thread (Miracles Custom) - http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2628737

05/22/2007, 09:29 PM	#12
nightOwl Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,799	israelnajar, What ballast are you running for the VHO's? Thanks, Henry __________________ To check out my pictures of my tank and trips just click on my name and visit my homepage. Tank Build Thread (Miracles Custom) - http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2628737

05/22/2007, 09:31 PM	#13
nightOwl Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,799	I had some of that reeferrocks.com base rock my 90 before i redid my rock work. Very nice once it encrusts. __________________ To check out my pictures of my tank and trips just click on my name and visit my homepage. Tank Build Thread (Miracles Custom) - http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2628737

05/22/2007, 10:05 PM	#14
syrinx Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: champaign Posts: 3,160	Like the par # of the 20ks, but not into the blue clown tank thing- don`t need green yellow tangs! Like the 15s color better but haven`t decided if i have enough watts to make up for their inefficiencies. Growth is a non issue to me really- I try to keep things from getting out of hand more than encouraging it! __________________ My views are based on 49years as an aquarist, 25 years as a pro reef consultant, 10 years of owning a LFS, and the results of thousands of customers tanks. But I am always learning.

05/22/2007, 10:19 PM	#15
israelnajar Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: 5000 Feet Posts: 1,007	Im using an Icecap A4. If you like I could post a FTS of before and after. __________________ I would never do such a thing unless you would already have been going to do that!

05/22/2007, 10:27 PM	#16
nightOwl Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,799	israelnajar, Yea post away I am always looking to see how people have their tanks set up and the types of corals. Thanks, Henry __________________ To check out my pictures of my tank and trips just click on my name and visit my homepage. Tank Build Thread (Miracles Custom) - http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2628737

05/23/2007, 08:34 PM	#17
israelnajar Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: 5000 Feet Posts: 1,007	This shot is with two 36 inch VHO bulbs. As you can see it is a little blue. Taken 4/22/07 The color on this one is more what it looked like in person. Taken today. As you can see it is a lot less blue, I love it. The only change I made in live stock between the two photos was I added another clown, a bicolor blenny, zoas and moved the clams to the same side. __________________ I would never do such a thing unless you would already have been going to do that!

05/23/2007, 08:45 PM	#18
israelnajar Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: 5000 Feet Posts: 1,007	Also I did have montipora digitata on my sand bed for a while but my anemone stung it to death while I was a way for the weekend. It grew slow but it did grow. On my sand bed now I have a green plating montipora and it is growing a lot faster. I cant wait to see if it grows any faster with the new bulb as well as the other corals. Especially the Xenia since it hasnt shown any growth. __________________ I would never do such a thing unless you would already have been going to do that! Last edited by israelnajar; 05/23/2007 at 08:50 PM.

05/23/2007, 08:59 PM	#19
nightOwl Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,799	looks very nice thanks for sharing...i just recently switched the bulbs over my 90 to a mix of 14k and blue plus with some vho actinics. i need to get around to taking some new updated pics. __________________ To check out my pictures of my tank and trips just click on my name and visit my homepage. Tank Build Thread (Miracles Custom) - http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2628737